Apparatus for storing a flexible elongated member, such as a flexible drill column

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an apparatus for storing an elongated member, such as a flexible drill column. This apparatus is constituted by an annular base plate on which the elongated member is coiled. This base plate is formed by a plurality of interconnected elements, each having substantially the shape of annular sector. This base plate is operatively associated to guiding means and means for driving it in rotation, one of said means being stationary and the other solid with said base plate.

United States Patent Chatard et al.

[451 Apr. 16, 1974 APPARATUS FOR STORING A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED MEMBER,SUCH AS A FLEXIBLE DRILL COLUMN Inventors: Michel Chatard, Chatou;Pierre Grolet, Orgerus; Rmi'Reynard, Montesson; Jean- Thiery, Le Pecq,all of France Institut Francais Du Petrole, Des Carburants et LubriantsFiled: June 20, 1972 Appl. No.: 264,470

Assignee:

" mag; tigpiicawa'r'imy fliit [52] US. CL... l37/355.l6, l37/355.27,137/35528, [51] Int. Cl. B65h 75/36 [58] Field of Search.....l37/355.16, 355.17, 355.26,

Cullen et al. l37/355.28 X

3,248,487 4/1966 Dechanstreiter 137/355.l7 X 3,300,154 1/1967 Campbell,Jr l37/355.28 X 3,374,801 3/1968 Rander 137/35516 X 3,546,400 12/1970Dechantsreiter 137[355 17 X 3,590,854 7/1971 Cork 137/355.l6 3,654,9514/1972 lfog onowski et al 137855.16

Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Craig andAntonelli [5 7] ABSTRACT The invention relates to an apparatus forstoring an elongated member, such as a flexible drill column.

This apparatus is constituted by an annular base plate on which theelongated member is coiled. This base plate is formed by a plurality ofinterconnected elements, each having substantially the shape of annularsector.

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,790,755 2/1931 Lallyl37/355.28 2,583,181 H1952 KUBZ l37/355.26 X 2,735,7l7 2/1956 Harman...]37/355.l7 X

This base plate is operatively associated to guiding means and means fordriving it in rotation, one of said means being stationary and the othersolid with said base plate.

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APPARATUS FOR STORING A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED MEMBER, SUCH AS A FLEXIBLEDRILL COLUMN This invention relates to an apparatus for storing anelongated member, such as a cable or a flexible hose or pipe.

More particularly, but not limitatively, the apparatus according to theinvention is adapted for storing and handling a flexible drill column.

Apparatuses for storing flexible drill columns or hoses already exist.

These apparatuses are generally constituted by an annular basketsupported by a vertical swivel co-axial with this annular basket.Driving means rotate this basket about the swivel which is solid with abase structure supporting the entire apparatus.

A rotary hydraulic coupling, co-axial with the basket, feeds theflexible pipe with hydraulic fluid.

The main drawbacks of such prior devices are in the building thereof,which requires the use of a very rigid base structure for supporting theentire apparatus and the need to maintain very accurately theverticality of the swivel and of the axis of the annular basket, so asto avoid that, under the action of the high weight of the flexible pipe,the swivel be subjected to abnormal stresses, for example as a result ofunbalanced weights, during the rotation of the annular basket.

The so-constructed apparatuses are therefore cumbersome, their operationis difficult and they require an important maintenance and watching.

An object of the present invention is accordingly to provide anapparatus for storing a flexible elongated member, which does not sufferfrom the drawbacks of the prior devices.

The apparatus according to the invention for storing a flexibleelongated member includes an inner cylindrical frame having asubstantially vertical axis, an outer cylindrical frame substantiallycoaxial to the inner frame, said frames forming between each other aspace which is open at its upper part, so as to allow the paswidth whichis greater than the diameter of the elongated member, the inner framehaving a radius at least equal to the minimum radius of curvature of theelongated member, means for guiding the rotation of the so-constitutedassembly about said vertical axis, driving means cooperating with saidguiding means and means for energizing said driving means.

In the apparatus according to the invention the annular base plate isconstituted by a plurality of elements, each having substantially theshape of an annular sector, said elements being interconnected byflexible connecting means, allowing a vertical displacement of saidelements relative to one another, each of said elements supporting acorresponding fraction of said inner and outer frames, said guiding anddriving means cooperating with each other for simultaneously supportingand driving in rotation said baseplate, one of said guiding FIG. 1diagrammatically illustrates a first embodiment of apparatus accordingto the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view from below of the apparatus illustrated by FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the apparatus according to theinvention.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a first embodiment of apparatusaccording to the invention for storing a flexible elongated member, suchas a flexible drill column 18.

The apparatus includes a cylindrical inner frame 1,

placed vertically and a cylindrical outer frame 2, coaxial with theframe 1.

The radial width between the'two frames is greater than the diameter ofthe flexible pipe and the radius of the inner frame is at least equal tothe minimum radius of curvature of the stored flexible pipe.

The two frames define a space 3 which is closed at its lower part by anannular base plate 4 and open at its upper part, thus allowing thepassage of the flexible pipe.

The frames 1 and 2 may be constituted, as diagrammatically illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2, by rigid vertical rods 5.

The base plate 4 is constituted by a plurality of elements 6, eachhaving substantially'the shape of an annular sector and supporting acorresponding portion of the cylindrical frames 1 and 2. The elements 6are interconnected by diagrammatically illustrated connecting members 7forming the annular base plate 4. These connecting members may be of anyknown type preferably such as to allow a slight displacement of theelements 6 relative to one another, for the reasons indicatedhereinunder.

Under each element 6 are secured in a known manner three wheels 8, 9 and10 (FIG. 2), this number being not limitative. These wheels, whichsupport the base structure 4, are displaceable along a guide pathconstituted for example by two annular and concentrical rails 11 and 12,substantially centered on the axis of the apparatus. These rails rest ona ballast 13 which is provided for this purpose.

Some of the wheels are provided with motors 14 for driving the apparatusin rotation about its vertical axis. The motors 14 may be hydraulic orelectric motors.

If the elongated member 18 stored in the apparatus is a flexible hose orpipe which must be supplied with a hydraulic fluid, such as a flexibledrill pipe, there is provided a hydraulic rotary coupling 16 of anyknown type, carried by a stationary axis 15. The rotary part of thiscoupling is driven by the apparatus and provides for the hydraulic fluidsupply of the flexible hose 18 through a pipe 19.

A second rotary coupling 17 provides the power supply to the motors 14.This coupling may be a hydraulic coupling similar to the coupling 16 inthe case where the motors 14 are hydraulic motors, or an electricalconnector, in the case of electric motors.

Such an apparatus has the advantage of being easily operated.

Contrarily to the prior art devices, it does not require a basestructure which is perfectly rigid and not deformable. As a matter offact the uneveness of the ballast will result in a slight verticalmovement of the elements 6 with respect to each other, which is quitepermissible since the pipe 18 is flexible.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the apparatus according to theinvention. In this embodiment the guideway, which consists in this caseof a rail 20, is solid with the annular base plate 4. This railway restson a plurality of wheels or rollers 21 carried by support members 23resting on the ballast 13.

Hydraulic or electric motors 22 drive wheels 21 which rotate the storingapparatus about its vertical axis.

This arrangement has the advantage of not requiring any rotary couplingfor supplying power to the engines What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for storing an elongated flexible member, comprising aninner cylindrical frame with a substantially vertical axis, an outercylindrical frame substantially co-axial with said inner frame, saidframes forming between each other a space which is open at its upperpart so as to allow the passage of the elongated member and closed atits lower part by an annular base plate, said space having a radialwidth which is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of theelongated member, the inner frame having a radius at least equal to theminimum radius of curvature of the elongated member, means for guidingthe rotation of the so-constituted assembly about said vertical axis,driving means cooperating with said guiding means and means forsupplying power to said driving means, said annular plate beingconsituted by a plurality of elements each having substantially theshape of an annular sector, said elements being interconnected throughflexible connecting means, allowing a vertical displacement of saidelements relative to one another, eachof said elements supporting acorresponding fraction of said inner and outer frames, said guiding anddriving means cooperating with each other for simultaneously supportingand driving in rotation said base plate, one of said guiding means andsaid driving means being solid with said platform and the other beingstationary with respect to said axis.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said elongated flexiblemember is a flexible drill pipe supplied with hydraulic fluid from asource of fluid, further comprising substantially on the vertical axisof said inner frame a rotary hydraulic coupling solid with said basestructure, said coupling connecting said source to one end of theflexible pipe.

3. A storing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guiding meansare constituted by at least one circular rail and said driving meanscomprise a plurality of weels in contact with said rail and means fordriving in rotation at least one of said wheels.

4. A storing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said guiding railis solid with said base plate.

5. A storing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said wheelsaresolid with said base plate, said apparatus being provided substantiallyon said vertical axis of the inner frame, with a rotary coupling solidwith said base structure, said coupling supplying power to said motorfor rotating said assembly.

6. A storing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said motor is anhydraulic motor.

7. A storing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said motor is anelectric motor.

1. An apparatus for storing an elongated flexible member, comprising aninner cylindrical frame with a substantially vertical axis, an outercylindrical frame substantially co-axial with said inner frame, saidframes forming between each other a space which is open at its upperpart so as to allow the passage of the elongated member and closed atits lower part by an annular base plate, said space having a radialwidth which is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of theelongated member, the inner frame having a radius at least equal to theminimum radius of curvature of the elongated member, means for guidingthe rotation of the so-constituted assembly about said vertical axis,driving means cooperating with said guiding means and means forsupplying power to said driving means, said annular plate beingconsituted by a plurality of elements each having substantially theshape of an annular sector, said elements being interconnected throughflexible connecting means, allowing a vertical displacement of saidelements relative to one another, each of said elements supporting acorresponding fraction of said inner and outer frames, said guiding anddriving means cooperating with each other for simultaneously supportingand driving in rotation said base plate, one of said guiding means andsaid driving means being solid with said platform and the other beingstationary with respect to said axis.
 2. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein said elongated flexible member is a flexible drill pipesupplied with hydraulic fluid from a source of fluid, further comprisingsubstantially on the vertical axis of said inner frame a rotaryhydraulic coupling solid with said base structure, said couplingconnecting said source to one end of the flexible pipe.
 3. A storingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means areconstituted by at least one circular rail and said driving meanscomprise a plurality of weels in contact with said rail and means fordriving in rotation at least one of said wheels.
 4. A storing apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said guiding rail is solid with said baseplate.
 5. A storing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said wheelsare solid with said base plate, said apparatus being providedsubstantially on said vertical axis of the inner frame, with a rotarycoupling solid with said base structure, said coupling supplying powerto said motor for rotating said assembly.
 6. A storing apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said motor is an hydraulic motor.
 7. Astoring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said motor is anelectric motor.